The Union of Maine Visual Artists (UMVA) presents “Washed Away,” an exhibition of work by 60 artists that addresses change from environmental and personal perspectives as accelerated changes impact the world as we know it, or used to know it. The show at the Portland Public Library runs from May 2 to June 28, 2025. An artists’ reception will be held First Friday, May 2nd from 5 to 7 pm. Noted art curator, critic, and author Carl Little, recipient of the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award in art writing by the Rabkin Foundation, has juried the show and will give a gallery talk on Friday, June 6 at 5:30 pm. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute will present “Coastal Flooding: Understanding Local Impacts through Science and Art” on Thursday, June 12th at 5:30 pm in the Library Auditorium. All events are free and open to the public. The show is sponsored by Green Clean Maine.
Over 100 artists responded to the request for work in a variety of media, including painting, photography, mixed media, video, digital and 3-D works. Of the artists chosen, notable names include Kimberly Callas, Kenny Cole, Rebecca Goodale, Nina Jerome, Lin Lisberger, Lesia Sochor, Barbara Sullivan, Anita Clearfield and Nora Tryon. Judith Greene-Janse is the chairperson for the exhibition.
Last winter, rising temperatures in the Gulf of Maine combined with king tides to produce storms that had a profound effect on many Mainers. Most scientists agree that severe weather and warming sea waters are the result of our current climate emergency. Iconic structures, docks, homes and businesses were devastated by the storms. During the run of the show, UMVA will feature a talk by a scientist from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute about the current impacts of climate change, what the short-term forecast is, and how people can help mitigate the effects.
“Reviewing the submissions for this UMVA show,” said Little, “I found a range of emotions—anger, fear, despair, hope—expressed in the artwork,” adding, “One need only read the titles to get the gist of the angst circulating in the world today: ‘When I Can’t Sleep,’ ‘Apocalyptic,’ ‘Roar,’ ‘Gimme Shelter,’ ‘You Will Lose Everything,’ etc.” To convey these visions, UMVA members turned to artist books, paintings and drawings, ceramics and a video.”
“The presentations are vital and often moving,” Little says, “the materials optimized to underscore the messages.” While a number of artists turned to images of flooding and, more generally, climate change in responding to the theme, others addressed societal issues such as the relentless washing away of personal rights.
Founded in 1975, the Union of Maine Visual Artists is a nonprofit organization that promotes and advocates for the visual arts, artists, and arts supporters as a statewide network connecting Maine artists. As advocate, the UMVA initiated and saw enacted into state law the Maine Percent for Art Program (requiring a percentage of funds for state buildings to include art) and the Artist’s Estate Tax Law (allowing art work to be used to pay artists estate taxes).
Other programs and projects supported by UMVA include The Maine Arts Journal, an online, quarterly publication that features essays by and about artists, interviews, member submissions, poetry, updates about the union’s current projects, local chapters, and more; ARRT! Artists Rapid Response Team, a collaboration of artists and progressive groups making art to create positive change; Lumen ARRT!!, a group creating large-scale video projections in public spaces to give a visual voice to progressive nonprofits; and the New England Emmy Award-nominated Maine Masters Project, a series of 19 compelling video profiles of some of Maine’s most distinguished and often less recognized artists. There are currently two chapters, Portland and Midcoast-Downeast. More information is at www.TheUMVA.org.
